The worldwide area under vines decreased slightly in 2015, according to data released in April 2016 by the Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV). Global vineyard area decreased by 0.1% to 7.53 million ha from the previous year, with a 4.3% increase in China offsetting declines in France, Italy, Turkey and Portugal (Table 31). China has overtaken Italy and France in recent years to become the second largest country by vineyard area, ranking only behind Spain. However, most of China's vineyards are planted with table grapes. Spain's vineyard area was almost steady in 2015 compared to the previous year at just over one million hectares, and appears to have stabilised after significant declines between 2008 and 2011.

OIV ranked Australia as the world's 11th largest country by vineyard area, with 149,000 hectares under vine in 2015. This is significantly higher than the Australian Bureau of Statistics' estimate of 135,178 hectares for the year to 30 June 2015. The ABS reported that vineyard area in Australia in 2015 had shrunk by 22% from the record of 2007, and was at its lowest level since 1999.

Global wine production increased by 2.2% in 2015, despite the decline in worldwide vineyard area (Table 32). OIV data shows the trend was led by Italian winemakers, who boosted total production 12% to 4,950 ML and cemented the country's position as the world's largest wine producer. France lifted wine production by only 2%, while output from Spain dropped 6%. OIV ranked Australia as the world's seventh largest wine producer with 1,190 ML in 2015, steady with the previous year.

In terms of wine exports (Table 33), Australia punched above its weight by ranking fifth in OIV's world league tables in terms of both volume and value. Australian exports (measured in OIV's currency of euros) jumped 15.6% to 1.459 billion in 2015. As reported elsewhere in this year's Wine Industry Directory, Australia's 2016 export performance was even stronger thanks to the industry's ability to capitalise on soaring demand from China. This could see Australia overtake Chile to become the world's fourth largest exporter in terms of value.

Spain is easily the world's largest wine exporter in terms of volume, with 2400 ML shipped in 2015, or more than three times Australia's exports of 740 ML. However, Spain ranked third in terms of value of exports behind France and Italy, reflecting the fact that 62% of its exports were low value bulk wines.

Looking at global imports (Table 34), the US imported more wine by value than any other country in 2015. US imports jumped by 20.2% to 4.85 billion euros, well ahead of the UK (3.91 billion euros) and Germany (2.47 billion euros). China overtook Canada and Japan to become the fourth largest country for imports by value after a 60.7% jump in 2015 to 1.84 billion euros.

OIV no longer publishes data on wine consumption per capita, but it does provide data on country consumption (Table 35). The US is the world's largest wine market, with consumption of 3,100 ML in 2015, up 1.0% from the previous year. The US is now the largest market by a wide margin following a steady decline in consumption in France over recent years, which fell a further 1.2% to 2,720 ML in 2015. France and Germany were equal third with a consumption level of 2,050 ML, up slightly from the previous year. China ranked fifth, with an estimated 1,600 ML consumed, up 3.2%.

Table 31. Top countries ranked by vineyard area, 2015

Country

Vineyard area ’000 ha

% of world

% change from 2014

Spain

1,021

13.6

-0.1

China

830

11

4.3

France

786

10.4

-0.6

Italy

682

9.1

-1.2

Turkey

497

6.6

-1

United States

419

5.6

0

Argentina

225

3

-0.4

Portugal

217

2.9

-3.1

Chile

211

2.8

0

Romania

192

2.6

0

Australia

149

2

-3.2

South Africa

130

1.7

-1.5

World

7,534

71.1

0.1

Source: OIV - State of the Vitiviniculture World Market April 2016

Table 32. Top producers of wine in the world, 2015 (ML)

Country

Wine production (ML)

% of world

change from 2014

Italy

4,950

18

12

France

4,750

17.3

2

Spain

3,720

13.6

-6

United States

2,210

8.1

1

Argentina

1,340

4.9

-12

Chile

1,290

4.7

28

Australia

1,190

4.3

0

South Africa

1,120

4.1

-2

China

1,100

4

-5

Germany

890

3.2

-4

Portugal

670

2.4

8

Russia

490

1.8

0

Romania

350

1.3

-6

World

27,440

87.7

2

Source: OIV - State of the Vitiviniculture World Market April 2016. Excludes juice and must

Table 33. Top exporters of wine in the world, 2015

Country

Wine exports volume (ML)

% change from 2014

Wine exports value (Million €)

% change from 2014

Spain

2,400

3.1

2,641

4.4

Italy

2,000

-2

5,353

5.4

France

1,400

-2.1

8,244

6.8

Chile

880

8.6

1,650

18.9

Australia

740

5.7

1,459

15.6

South Africa

420

0

629

5.9

United States

420

5

1,395

26.5

Germany

360

-7.7

953

-2.4

Portugal

280

0

738

1.8

Argentina

270

3.8

737

16.8

New Zealand

210

10.5

963

14

World Total

9,807

25,610

Source: OIV - State of the Vitiviniculture World Market April 2016. Excluding must.